This trade is only the final domino in a number of steps that boxed us into this situation. First Danny thought that he could keep Rondo and attract/trade for a key star player. That seemed like a good plan to many but it didn't work. We didn't get Love being the highlight of the failed plan.
Then Ainge appeared to believe that Rondo was going to have his best year ever and that we would be good, have assets, could keep Rondo, trade assets, and have a good team. Danny was wrong about this too because Rondo did not have his best year ever (actually regressed) and it further appears that Rondo was not going to resign with a bad team.
So then after Plan A and Plan B didn't pan out, Ainge was left with rushing to trade Rondo before the deadline before the deadline or continue to play it out with the hope that his value would increase as the real trade deadline approach. I actually thought they would get better value by waiting but now of course I am not so sure.
I don't think Ainge's handling of Rondo as an asset can be given high marks. I don't feel it is a calamity but probably no better than disappointing. Overall though, I am still for betting on Ainge as a good GM. No GM is going to be able to handle every situation/asset to achieve an A+. I feel Ainge didn't do well in this class but his overall GPA is still pretty good, maybe even Dean's list relative to the rest of the NBA.